UPDATED: Feb. 2, 2018 at 1:48 a.m.

Ithaca-based “indie-folky-pop” band Burns and Kristy said their concerts are a time to get plugged into a different place in the world. The band returns to Syracuse with a performance this Friday as part of the Folkus Project, an organization that brings folk music to central New York.

The concert will be held at the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society at 8 p.m. Husband-and-wife duo Terry Burns and Ron Kristy will perform with Rich DePaolo and Doug Robinson on Friday.

The couple described their sound as eclectic, acoustic and vocal-oriented — their acts are a “variety show.”

“There’s a lot of banter and talking, there’s more than just singing and listening to songs,” Burns said. “It’s a little bit of a variety show because (we) have some songs that are ‘stone cold country’ and then some that are a little bit bluegrass-y and then some that are pop — you know of that sort, but the combination with our sound makes it work.”

Kristy knew he wanted to make music ever since he was in high school, he said.

“I started playing guitar and playing piano, I’m self-taught, and I just loved doing that and I never thought I would do anything else and I never have,” he said. “It’s always been just my total passion.”

Before forming the band, his music was featured on shows including “20/20,” “Good Morning America” and “Dancing with the Stars.”

Burns was also introduced to music at a young age. Born to a musical family, she said her mother, who was a singer, always had music playing around the house.

“I was in musicals growing up and constantly singing to something and was obsessed with songs, and then I eventually became a songwriter,” she said.

Before forming a band with her husband, Burns recorded music with her siblings under the name “The Burns Sisters.” She has also worked on independent projects, and her music has been featured on TV shows such as “The Fosters” and “Who Wants to Marry My Dad?”

The couple, now based in Ithaca, wed 14 years ago after meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. They moved to New York when they had their first child, and after making music independently for years, they “naturally evolved” into a band in 2011, Burns said.

Burns and Kristy got involved with the Folkus Project after hearing about the organization at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance. They also gained exposure in the Syracuse area after sending their CD to host Larry Hoyt of WAER, who has played a few of their songs, Burns said.

The band first performed with the Folkus Project in 2016 and said they are looking forward to reconnecting with the Syracuse community.

“We’re just looking forward to playing new songs for everybody and some of the older stuff too,” Burns said.

The Folkus Project, which was started in fall 2000, is a not-for-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. Steve Pfanenstiel, the publicity director of the Folkus Project, became involved with the organization two and a half years ago.

“There is so little live music now,” Pfanenstiel said. “A lot of the bars, they no longer do music, they no longer do open mics. So it seems like there’s just fewer and fewer venues that do live music. So, it’s just important to get that live music into the area.”

The project usually has 16 shows a year, which is split into two seasons — from September to December and from January to May, said Pfanenstiel. The shows are mostly held at the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society on East Genesee Street.

To the couple, music is like another language that everyone can hear.

“Music I think goes straight through to the heart of people and what we all share, and so it’s just really a joy,” Kristy said. “That’s a big deal to us.”

Admission is $15. Tickets and more information can be found at www.folkus.org.

CORRECTION: In a previous version of this post, the musicians performing with Burns and Kristy on Feb. 2 were misnamed. The duo will play with Rich DePaolo and Doug Robinson.

CLARIFICATION: In a previous version of this post, the locations of The Folkus Project’s concerts were unclear.

Published on January 31, 2018 at 10:41 pm

Contact Jony: ktsampah@syr.edu